Interim Taliban govt apologises to Pakistan for the Chaman border incident

Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government has apologised to Pakistan for the Chaman border incident!

The Chaman border incident left six Pakistani citizens martyred and 17 others wounded.

The Afghan border forces opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire, using heavy weapons at the civilian area in Balochistan’s Chaman city on Sunday.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif informed on Monday that the Chaman border — between Pakistan and Afghanistan — has been re-opened after the neighbouring country apologised for the incident.

Khawaja Asif, speaking to journalists in Islamabad, said that Afghanistan opened fire on civilians and in retaliation, Pakistan’s security forces targeted the neighbouring country’s check post.

However, the committee of border security forces has been formed to avert such occurrences, he added.

The federal minister also ruled out negotiation with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The defence minister also responded to Jamaat-e-Islami’s MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali’s remarks, where he targeted State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

The JI minister remarked that Khar was sent to Afghanistan, but her visit did not have a favourable impact.

Khawaja Asif said that a person should be judged on their performance, not on the basis of gender. “The remarks were uncalled for.”

Pakistan demanded strict action against unprovoked firing by Afghan border forces in the Chaman area on Sunday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement shared on Monday via a tweet termed the Chaman incident as “unfortunate” and asked the Afghanistan government to “ensure that such incidents are not repeated.”

“Unprovoked shelling & fire by Afghan Border Forces at Chaman resulting in the martyrdom of several Pakistani citizens & injuring more than a dozen is unfortunate & deserves the strongest condemnation. The Afghan Interim government should ensure that such incidents are not repeated,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said.